Real Madrid manager, Carlo Ancelotti has decided on who will be responsible for the club’s penalty kicks this season.
Real Madrid are gearing up for their first official match of the 2024/25 season, which is against Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday, August 14.
Leading up to that encounter, Madrid’s boss Ancelotti has decided that Vinicius Jr will be responsible for taking Real Madrid penalty kick in the coming season.
The Brazilian will take the spot kicks ahead of other superstars, Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham.
Note that during Mbappe’s entire stint at PSG, he had been their primary option for penalties and is the first choice for the spot kicks with the France national team.
Despite his impressive performance in the previous season, the 25-year-old player will have to settle for being the backup penalty-taker at Real Madrid according to MARCA.
Meanwhile, this decision to name Vinicius as the primary choice for penalties was reportedly made to ensure the best performance from marquee signing Kylian Mbappe without causing any conflicts among other players in the upcoming season.
Carlo Ancelotti names Kylian Mbappe to be Real Madrid’s free kick taker
Mbappe, on the other hand, has been given the responsibility of taking free-kicks as he aims to make a strong impact following his transfer to the La Liga club.
Real Madrid officially announced Mbappe’s signing on 3 June 2024, following their victory in the UEFA Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund.
This marked the end of a long-awaited transfer saga that had been the talk of the football world for seven years.
Mbappe’s move to Real Madrid, amidst intense speculation and negotiations, highlighted his status as one of the most sought-after players in the sport.
Meanwhile, the French forward was presented to 80,000 fans at the Santiago Bernabeu on 16 July, a turnout that matched Cristiano Ronaldo’s unveiling in 2009.
The Ballon d’Or moves closer for Vinicius Jr
Vinicius had a successful campaign in the 2023/2024 season with Real Madrid, scoring 24 goals and providing 11 assists in 39 appearances across all competitions.
The Brazilian star Vinicius helped steer Real Madrid to a rare La Liga and Champions League double in the 2023/24 season.
His outstanding performance has put him in a strong position to contend for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award this year.
Meanwhile, former Real Madrid star Karim Benzema has backed Vinicius to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or award.
The French star explained why he thinks Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior deserves to win the award claiming that Vini’s contribution to Los Blancos’ success last season cannot be overemphasized.
Benzema said: “I’m going to say Vini because he deserves it for his season and not just for what he’s done this year, but also for what he’s done last year, he was also above the rest with his football and what he does with the ball.”
What’s next?
Real Madrid will play against Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup final on Wednesday, August 13 followed by their first La Liga match against Mallorca on Sunday, August 18.
